'Roses' Have Thorns

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.
Song of Solomon 2:2

I am NOT a gardener. I wanted to set that straight from the start. Love flowers, I do. Plant them, water them, tend them, I do. Mostly, I watch and pray, hoping that God will once again create a miracle in my yard. He does, every year. I have four rose bushes which have beautiful blooms that I love to see reappear each year. Four rose bushes that have made me bleed, pierced by their thorns, multiple times. Yet, knowing I will most likely be hurt and bleed no matter how careful I am, I still go back and tend those bushes. WHY? I love the finished product. I love their fragrance and their beauty. I have learned to put up with the thorns because I love the roses.

Does this sound at all familiar? The Master Gardener, Creator of all, has such patience with the 'roses' in His garden. How often He gets the pain of our thorns as we lash out at Him, or worse, ignore His presence. So why does He bother with us? He knows we need tending. He loves each and every single 'rose'. He knows how to get us to bloom for Him in time. Each of us can become His prized rose.

With His help we can be more like Him as we deal with, 'prickly people', the other 'roses' in our lives. Perhaps a little reminder might help. Looking for an addition to your garden.....

.....plant a rose bush.

Roses Have Thorns

Dedicated to all the 'roses' in my life's garden.

Bleeding, I sit and weep, for
once again you have pierced my
heart with the thorns of your hurt.
When will you realize? When will you
know, I am not your enemy. I am your
comrade fighting this battle with you.
Life has wounded you so many times. Left
you hiding behind thick, stone walls so high.
With patience, I will chip away
your rough mortar until
a sliver of my soul’s radiance
shines through. Don't be afraid.
Embrace it, bask in it, knowing
that only love’s light will allow you to grow,
bloom, and become my prized rose.

AUTHOR'S COMMENT: Based on an old adage or saying:
Persons who love roses will have patience with their thorns.